Apparatus for the manufacture of artificial stone.



No. 760,651. 'PATENTED 111M524, 1904.

kW. SCHWARZ. I APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURED-P ARTIFICIAL STONE."

APPLIOATION III I;D. FEB. 14, 1902.

10 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPARATUS FOR no MODEL.

ZSHEETS-QHEBTZ.

.UNITE-D STATES? Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNMENTS, TO SOHWARZ .TION OF NEW YORK.

SYSTEM BRICK COMPANY, A CORPORA- APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OFARTIFICIAL STONE. I

v SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 760,651, dated May 24,1904.

Application filed February 14, 1902. SBrialNO. 94,110- lNo model.)

To all whom, it may concern} 1 Be it known that I, WILHELM SoHwARz, acitizen of Switzerland, residing at No. 46

Weinberg street, Zurich, Switzerland, have invented a new and ImprovedApparatus for theManufacture of Artificial Stone, of which the followingis aspecification. I

' This invention relates to improvements in mechanical constructions ofthat class availed of in the operation of manufacturing stonelikeproducts, particularly artificial sandstone, the samebeing appropriatelydesignated .Apparatus for the manufacture of artificial stone.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the characterabove indicated which" shall be simple and inexpensive as regardsconstruction, durable, eflicient, and reliable in operation, convenientin its application to practical purposes, and which shall possesscertain well-defined advantages over prior analogous constructions.

of certain parts novel as to form, in the novel disposition and relativearrangement of the various parts thereof, in certain combinations of thelatter, and in certain details of construction, all of which will bespecifically referred to hereinafter, and set forth in appendedclaims. 3The invention is clearly illustrated in'the accompanying drawings,wherein similar ref erence characters denotecorresponding partsthroughout the several views, and=as to said drawings- Figure 1 is aplan view of an'apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section along their regular line a a of Fig. 3,a segment of the dome of the main tank being taken away. 4 Fig. 3 is anelevation of the front end of the apparatus. Fig. 4-. is an elevation ofthe rear end of the apparatus, a segment of the wall of the main tankand of the jacket conjoined with said-tank being broken away to betterdisclose the interior construction. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing inelevation certain elements employed for imparting power and motion tothe mixer or mixers disposed within the main tank of my improvedapparatus.

4 5 mining the latter. The invention consists in the employment.

Fig. 6 is a detail View showing in elevation a form of valve wh1ch Ipurpose making use of 1n connection w1th my lmproved apparatus;

A silicate, as sand and lime, oran analogous.

I and accurately the degree or quantity of such Heretofore it has beenthe practice to well. commingle or mix the normal sand and the lime in asuitable receptacle and thereafter admit to the presence ofsuchcommingled sand and lime a degree or quantity of moisture(ordinarily in the form of steam or water) in addition to that containedin the @undried sand and without previously deter- Under such conditionsone moisture.

is powerless to predetermine that degree or quantity of additionalmoisture best adapted I to insure the most satisfactory results in thefinished product, as the total moisture-that .being chemically orin asense mechanically is, the latent moisture of the sand and-the thansuflicient for the purpose specified.

'While, a serviceable finished product may be obtained where theforegoing mode of procedure that involving the use of sand, lime, and anindefinite though approximately correct' degree or quantity of totalmoisture is adopted in order to insure the mostsatisfactory qualities inthe finished product, it is essential, that the latent'moisture ,of thesand degree of latent moisture contained in normal sand also operatesdetrimentally to the correct proportioning of the sand and lime.Treatment of the sand for the extraction and removal of the latentmoisture therefrom The' uncertainty as to the I is most advantageouslyeffected in vacuum by the application of heat while commingling the sandand lime, the predetermined quantity of moisture aforenamed beingavailed of at or about the close of such commingling operation. and theapparatus whereby I accomplish these results will now be described,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

The main tank a may be of any appropriate general contour and formedfrom any suitable material, as sheet metal, boiler-iron, or the like.The same rests on a base at, here shown as being hollow, and said tankis therefore stationary. It is provided at its crown with a chargingopening surrounded by an opentop dome c, by way of which dome andopening charging of said tank, as well as access to the interior thereoffor any desired purpose, may be effected.

When the apparatus is required for service, dome 0 should be closed, andto this end cover 6 is provided.

0? represents a vacuum-pipe, the same be ing here shown as communicatingwith the interior of tank a by way of the dome c. This pipe (Z isintended to lead from avacuumgenerator of any well-known and approvedtype and is provided with a controlling-valve I).

There is connected with the tank a a jacket or shell e, whereby a space0', extending along the opposite sides and ends and partially along thebottom of said tank, is formed, such space being for the reception of aheating medium, as steam, hot air, or the like, and said heating mediumbeing supplied to .space a by means of a pipe f, the latter having acontrolling-valve f and leading from any appropriate generator of theheating medium availed of.

Space 0 may be relieved of any water of condensation accumulatingtherein in the practical operation of the apparatus by means of pipe 9,which is provided with a controlling-valve g.

It will be seen that heat may be applied to the tank a and at the sametime the air exhausted therefrom by properly adjusting valves 5 f.

The vacuum created in tank a in the practical operation of the apparatustends to hold cover I) firmly to a seating engagement with the dome c,and to promptly destroy this vacuum and accordingly counteract itstendency as regards cover 7) the air-inlet pipe it is provided, suchpipe communicating with the interior of tank a and being provided with acontrolling-valve it.

At that portion of the bottom of tank a unoccupied by the space a asuitable opening is formed, by way of which the contents of said tankmay be discharged, and for controlling said opening a suitable cover,such as it, is provided.

As hereinbefore stated, the moisture availed of other than the latentmoisture of the sand (which is preferably, however, previouslyextracted) may be either in the liquid form or in the form of steam,depending on the character of the lime and sand to be treated, and inorder to properly admit said moisture to the tank in regulated qualities1 use one or more sprayers 0, arranged horizontally in and lengthwise ofthe tank at the upper portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. I show two ofthese spray-pipes; but] may use only one, or a plurality of them, as Idesire or as required by the size of the tank and the necessity ofwetting or moistening every part of the material.

In the drawings, a f indicate pipes which connect the sprayers c withsources of steam or water supply, the passage of steam or water inthrough each pipe being regulated by valves 9 0'. By reason of thesesprayers and their connections. water may be admitted to it to slake thelime, and steam to moisten the compound, either or both as desired andthe conditions of work make necessary.

Pipe 6 is controlled by a valve and pipe f by a valve 1/, said valvesbeing respectively utilized by the operator in regulating the admissionof either of the moisture elements aforenamed into the tank a.

Vithin the tank (01 arrange a bladed mixer 7?, supported at its oppositeends. Spccilicall y the mixer 2' has a journal 5 at one end thereof,which journal turns in the closed bearing 2', and at its opposite end ajournal j, which turns in the bushing 7", arranged within the socket j.The journal j extends outwardly beyond the adjacent wall of the tank (Ito receive a gear-wheel Z", whereby power and motion may be imparted tosaid extended journal and accordingly to said mixer i.

It will be understood that a plurality of mixers, such as 71, may beemployed within the tank a, and accordinglyl have illustrated in theaccompanying drawings a bladed mixer if? in addition to the mixer vi.The mixer Zr has at one end thereof a journal 2", which corresponds withthe journal '1 and turns in the closed bearing Zr, and at the oppositeend thereof a journal Z, which turns in a bushing Z, arranged within thesocket Z, the bushing and socket last named corresponding inconstruction and relative arrangement with the bushing j and socket 1",respectively.

The journal Z is extended outwardly beyond the adjacent wall of tank ato receive a gearwheel m, whereby power and motion may be imparted tosaid extended journal and accordingly to the mixer 7;.

Mixer 7c coincides in form and construction with the mixer 2', and wherea pair of mixers journaled and disposed substantially as herein setforth are employed gears Z" and m may be adjusted in a manner to mesheach with the other, so that power and motion may be simultaneouslyapplied to the respective mixers 71 Z? or transmitted from one to theother upon with the heat made use of, the speedy extrac-,,

tion and removal of the'latent moisture from the sand in the firstinstance and in the second instance the most favorable conditions underwhich may take place the mixing of the ma terials contained in tanka andby reason of atmospheric tendencies being excluded the complete chemicalreaction, which results in the formation of silicate of lime instead ofcarbonate of lime or mortar. Further, under such conditions theplasticity of the commingled massis such that the mass may be taken fromthe apparatus and immediately Worked into the required forms, as bymeans of molds or the like, and a marked uniformity in quality andstrength invariably and irrespective of weather conditions characterizesthe finished products.

Tank a is provided with a valve A, which may be employed in place of theinlet-pipe It for admitting air to tank (a or liberating from said tankgases or vapors generated therein, said Valve being shown as arranged inconjunction with a pipe A. Connections of any appropriate character, asthe weighted lever A, bell-crank A and chain A may be employed foradapting said valve to be operated either automatically or by manualeffort.

The mixers 11 7c operate each in opposition to the other, thus insuringa thorough commingling of the materials affected thereby.

Any suitable device maybe employed for indicating the temperature of theheating medium introduced into space 6', as that denoted by thecharacter B. p v

In operation the moist silicious material having been introduced intotank a cover 6 is adjusted to dome 0, and a partial vacuum being createdheat is applied to tank a and said material contained therein, ashereinbefore set forth. Then power and motion are imparted to the mixeror m xers arranged for movement within tank a, these conditions beingmaintained for a period of time sufficient to insure the completeextraction and removal of the latent moisture from said siliciousmaterial, whereupon valve 5 is closed, air is admitted to the tank a byway of valveAor pipe 7, cover I) removed, and the lime or analogousproduct is introduced to tank a to-be commingled with the dry siliciousmaterial contained therein. Then cover?) having been replaced theconditions above named are reinstated, and the commingling operationproceeds fora period of time sufficient to insure a thorough mixing orcommingling of the'lime and silicious material in tank a, whereupon apredetermined degree or quantity of moisture is admitted to the presenceof the commingled lime and silicious ma' 3 teria'l by way of themoisture inlet or inlets aforenamed of the apparatus, such moisturebeing availed of for the specified.

It will be seen that my improved apparatus is particularly well adaptedfor the accomplishment of the results herein set forth and, further,that the same may be modified to some extent without materiallydeparting purposes hereinbefore v from the spirit and principle of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a combined drying and mixing apparatus for the manufacture ofartificial stone, a stationary main tank, a rotatable shaft therein,having mixing-blades, mechanism for ro- 'tating said shaft, aheating-jacket partly surrounding said vacuum-tank, valves for theadmission of a heating medium to said jacket, a valve controlled vacuumpipe leading from said main pipe to a vacuum-producer, whereby a vacuummay be produced in said tank simultaneously with its being heated, meansfor closing said tank against the admission of outside air, afluid-inlet pipe for the admission of fluid to the contents of the tank,a sprayerpipe connected to said inlet-pipe, a valve for closing saidfluid-inlet, a valve-controlled airinlet pipe for breaking the vacuum insaid tank, an outlet provided with a safety-valve, for permitting theescape of vapor generated in the tank, ports for the charging and discharging of the contents of the tank, and covers for said ports,substantially as described.

2. In a combined drying, mixing andslaking apparatus for the manufactureof artificial stone, a stationary main tank, a rotatable shaft thereinhaving mixing-blad es, a heatingjacket partly surrounding said tank,valves .for the admission of a heating medium to said ICC jacket,- avalve-controlled vacuum-pipe leading from said tank to 'avacuum-producer whereby a vacuum may be produced in said tanksimultaneously with its being heated, means for closing said tankagainst the admission of outside air, inlet-pipes, sprayers connected tosaid inlet-pipes, means for admitting either steam or water to saidpipes and thence to the contents of the tank, a valve for closing saidfluid-inlet, a valvecontrolled air-inlet pipe for breaking the vacuum insaid tank and ports for charging and discharging the contents of thetank with'covers for the same, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto setmy hand in presence of twowitnesses.

VVILHELM SCHWARZ, Witnesses:

LEO FRIEDMANN, A. LIEBERKNEOHT.

